Maha Govt is repressing anti-Jaitapur movement: Ex-SC judge

Mumbai: Terming the arrests of those opposing
the upcoming Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Konkan region as
"repression", a former Supreme Court judge on Wednesday said
activists would go ahead with a public hearing by the Indian
People’s Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights.

"We fear this (the arrests) is an attempt to scuttle the
proposed hearing by the Indian People?s Tribunal at Mithgavane
village on March 6 and 7," said former Supreme Court Judge, P
B Sawant.
To protest against the "injustice", social organizations
are holding a public hearing on the proposed nuclear power
plant, which will be presided over by Justice (retd) A P Shah
and Justice Sawant.

"Notices have already been sent to government officials,
ministers and concerned authorities to attend the tribunal and
present their side of the matter. We appeal to the government
and other concerned ministers to answer our queries on the
safety issue through this tribunal," Sawant added.
The Tribunal has support of several NGOs, including
Janhit Seva Samiti (JSS), Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Bachao
Samiti (KVPBS), Human Rights Law (HRL), Lok Shasan Andolan
(LSA), Indian Environment Movement (IEM), Lokayat, Bharatiya
Pariyavaran (BP) and Konkan Urja Prakalap Samiti.

"The Jaitapur project could be risky because of the
untested design of Areva?s European Pressurised Reactor. The
design has not been cleared by nuclear regulators anywhere but
India still wants to install it," Sawant alleged.